A Nigerian returnee, Okafor Ugochukwu, has recounted how he fled South Africa without his two daughters after surviving what he described as three separate xenophobic attacks that destroyed his businesses, left him homeless and forced him to abandon the life he had built over a decade.
Ugochukwu, an indigene of Anambra State, shared his experience in an interview with Vanguard on Tuesday, saying he left Nigeria in 2014 in search of greener pastures and eventually spent about 10 years living and doing business in South Africa.
According to him, his journey first took him to Tanzania and Mozambique before he eventually settled in Johannesburg, where he established himself as a businessman.
He explained that after arriving in South Africa, he ventured into the clothing business and gradually became financially stable.
I’ve been there like 10 years. I left Nigeria in 2014 because I wanted to travel. I have been to Tanzania, I have been to Mozambique, but I spent my good 10 years in South Africa. I was doing business there. I had a boutique where I sold clothes,” he said.
Ugochukwu disclosed that he had planned to return to Nigeria in 2017 after purchasing a flight ticket but was unable to travel because of immigration issues involving his passport.
He said after his ticket expired, he invested the remaining money he had into expanding his business in South Africa.
I bought my ticket in 2017 because I wanted to return home, but I was denied because of issues with my passport. The ticket expired, so I used the little money I had left to start another business,” he said.
However, he said his dreams suffered a major setback in 2018 when his business was destroyed during a xenophobic attack targeting foreign nationals.
According to him, relatives in Nigeria later came to his aid by sending money, which enabled him to start another business selling earphones, hair products and other accessories.
He said he managed to rebuild his life until another wave of xenophobic attacks erupted, destroying his shop once again.
“They came to my place. They burnt my place and destroyed my business. I lost everything. I had no choice but to run because my life is very important,” he said.
Ugochukwu described the latest attack as the final blow that convinced him to abandon South Africa and return to Nigeria.
He said he escaped with nothing, leaving behind his home, business and personal belongings.
“I left my place without anything. I left broke. My house and everything were destroyed. I’m stranded. I’m homeless. I’m down,” he lamented.
The returnee also revealed that his two daughters remain in South Africa, saying leaving them behind was one of the most painful decisions he had ever made.
“I do have two girls back there. I’m so sorry and disappointed,” he said.
According to him, after fleeing the attack, he sought refuge at the Nigerian Consulate in Pretoria, where he stayed for several days before arrangements were made for his evacuation to Nigeria.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for facilitating his return, saying he was grateful to be alive despite losing everything.
“Thank God for our president for making it possible for us to return to Nigeria because when there is life, there is hope,” he said.
Ugochukwu said many South Africans wrongly perceive Nigerians and other foreigners as responsible for the country’s unemployment and crime challenges.
